Improvement in cigar-machines



R.B.R()BB1NS.

. Improvement in Cigar Machines.

No. 124,629. PatentedMarchiZJWZ FFICE.

RICHARD B. ROBBINS, on ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIGAR-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,629, dated March 1'2, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that R. B. ROBBINS, of Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, has invented a new and valuable Improvement in Cigar-Presses and he does hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a longitudinal central section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

This invention has relation to the manufacture of cigars; and it consists in the novel construction, as hereinafter described, of a machine comprising a rotary press-drum encircled by dies of suitable shape and arrangement. The green bunches of tobacco are placed within the dies, and the cigars pressed therefrom by the application of suitable pressure, which is created when the drum is turned around on its axis, by means hereinafter explained.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A represents a rectangular frame, having uprights 13 supporting a horizontal table, 0. To two of the uprights B a rotary press-drum, D, is journaled. Around the periphery of said drum are formed, at regular intervals, radial projections. The projections marked d are the inner dies, which, together with the cap-dies d d, receive the green bunches of tobacco and reduce the same to the shape of the ordinary cigars. The outer dies are wedge-shaped, and fit the recesses 01 between the dies at and the projections (3 In the manufacture of cigars by my machine the bunch is first placed in the die (P, and the latter then placed on the pressdrum. The dies 01 are taken out and replaced by hand. The grooves or notches e on the tops of the projections d are for the purpose of allowing the removable dies to be more easily taken hold of. The notches e on the sides admit air to the cigars while under pressure, thereby facilitating its setting and drying. The press-drum is so arranged, as will be observed, that its periphery passes through an opening in the table 0, so as to be within convenient reach of the operator. E E designate two rods of round metal. These rods are secured at one end to the table O, and are thence bent around underneath the press-drum, concentric with it, and terminate at the opposite end of the openin g in the table from where they began. These rods pass through grooves F cut in the dies (1 as shown in Fig. 2. As ,the drum is turned around the dies d raised by the tobacco under them, are gradually pressed into their sockets, and the green bunch compressed to the proper shape and condition for receiving the outside wrapper. This gradual compression allows the cigar to set as it goes round, and thus avoid what is termed the feather on a cigar. The rods E E are fastened at one end only, and are also elastic-a condition which enables them to give according to the probably varying bulk of the green bunches.

Fig. 3 shows a modification in the construction of the outer die. Gr G are metallic sides, having corrugations at g. The metal at the corrugations is stiffer than the rest of the sides, and hence compresses the tobacco until the dies come together. The object is to avoid the feather before mentioned. The back part of the die is grooved at g g for the reception of the rods E E. In these grooves metal bearings h are fitted to prevent the wearing of the wood and to reduce friction. The drum isoperated by means of a dog, H, pivoted to the drum-shaft, and acting on a ratchet-wheel, I, secured to one end of the drum. The rotation of the drum is intermittent, and allows time for the removal of the cigars and the substitution of the bunches, according as they are compressed.

Other means of operating the machine than those specified may be employed. When the dog and ratchet are used, I purpose operating the latter by foot'power. The outer dies may be duplicated to any desirable extent. Thus cheap labor may be employed in filling them, ready for the press-operator. The drum may be indexed, as by numbering the projections (1 or in any equivalent manner that will render the counting of the cigars singly unnecessary. The drum may be made of extra width in order to allow of the use of the German molds or cards instead of those shown.

What he claims as his invention, and desires to secure by Letters Patent, is.-

1. The cigar-press, having the rotary drum In testimony that he claims the above he has D, molds (1 al or their equivalents, and bent hereunto subscribed his name in the presence rods E, substantially as and for the purpose of two itnesses. specified.

2. The projections d? on the drum D, having RICHARD B. ROBBINS. the notches e e, as and for the purpose specified. Witnesses:

3. The improved cigar-mold, having the cor- R. R. NEWKIRK, rugated side plates G, as and for the purpose WM. S. GRUNDY. set orth. 

